Archive - August 30, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

A new USA Today/Gallup poll finds that 51% of Americans have never heard of McCain's running mate. Only 39% say she is ready to be president, if needed-- the lowest proportion since Dan Quayle in 1988. 33% say she is not ready, and 29% have no opinion. Two of three say Palin will have no impact on their vote. Conducted Friday; Error margin: 4 points. Permalink

Corn Fight!

Stopping at an Ohio farm stand, Obama, Biden, and Gov. Strickland squabble over which region has the best corn. Biden: "I used to think the South Jersey corn is ... the best corn." Obama: "Illinois has a little corn. I just want to make sure you know that." Strickland: "Ah, that's for hogs." Read the pool report. , 9:00 PM

First Biden Ad

Obama's veep pick is featured in his first ad, a positive bio piece to air in northeastern Pennsylvania. Biden talks about visiting his "grandpop" in Scranton, and compares his family to Obama's. "It feels good to be coming home, and bringing home a friend." Click above to watch, and read more here. Permalink

McCain Collects Over $7 Million Since Palin Announcement

Donations are pouring in to the Republican's campaign since Friday morning's announcement. Social and religious conservatives have been particularly energized by the VP pick. Palin raised less than $500,000 for her Alaska gubernatorial campaign. Permalink

Sunday NY Times: Palin Pick Sends Obama Team Scrambling

The Paper of Record says Obama staffers are headed to Anchorage and Palin's town of Wasilla to research the little-known governor, as the campaign develops its response. Plans to highlight her conservatism and short experience, and to enlist Sen. Clinton to hold on to women. Meanwhile, staffers are reviewing GOP convention speeches to ensure they don't push the experience issue too hard against Obama. Permalink

McCain: "I Know How People Are Hurting"

The Senator pushes back against the charge he's economically out of touch with voters. Tells the Chicago Tribune: "I have town hall meetings all over the country all of the time and I know how people are hurting." On the coming convention: "Sure I'm nervous... Sen. Obama is probably the greatest speaker of our time." Read more from his interview. Permalink

McCain May Curtail, Suspend Convention Due to Gustav

The GOP candidate tells Fox News that the convention may be trimmed, altered or even suspended for a day or two due to the storm. McCain: "It wouldn't be appropriate to have a festive occasion while a near tragedy or a terrible challenge is presented in the form of a natural disaster." Watch video above. Full interview to air on Sunday's "Fox News Sunday." Meanwhile, the evacuation grows from Louisiana as Gustav strengthens to a Category 4 hurricane. Permalink

Some Alaska Pols Unwowed By Palin Choice

The State Senate president-- a Republican-- says she thought it was a joke: "She's not prepared to be governor. How can she be prepared to be vice president or president?" Plus: The Obama camp circulates negative reaction in newspapers from Alaska and elsewhere. , 2:10 PM

Cindy McCain "Offended" By Obama Speech

The candidate's wife tells ABC's "This Week" that Obama's derision of the McCain family's wealth was unfair and offensive. “My father had nothing. He and my mother sold everything they had to raise $10,000. I’m proud of what my dad and my mother did and what they built and left me.” In Thursday's stadium speech, Obama says McCain "doesn't know" and "doesn't get" what ordinary Americans are experiencing. Full interview airs on Sunday's "This Week." Permalink

Obama: Palin an "Up and Coming Public Servant"

In Sunday's "60 Minutes" on CBS, Obama also says the Alaska governor has a "compelling life story." But adds: "It’s too early for me to gauge what kind of running mate she’ll be. My sense is that she subscribes to John McCain’s agenda." Of his own pick, Obama says no one doubts Biden "can step in and become president." Read more interview excerpts here. Permalink

Palin=$ (Continued)

More than $10 million has poured into McCain campaign coffers in the days since the Palin selection was announced. Total coinage raised in August is now reportedly in excess of $47 million, making it McCain's best month of the campaign so far. Permalink

New Obama Ad Reaches Out to Detroit

Spot touts Obama's support for loan guarantees for the auto industry, and accuses McCain of "selling out American workers." Click above to watch, and read script here. Ends with image of Bush and McCain together, the president's hand on McCain's back. Begins airing Saturday in Michigan. Permalink

RNC Big: Palin Pick Has Party "On Fire"

On afternoon conference call, RNC Deputy Chair Frank Donatelli says the surprise VP pick has revved up party members in St. Paul. "It reinforces Sen. McCain's image as a reformer who is coming to Washington to shake up things so there won't be business as usual." Also defends her experience: "Gov. Palin has executive experience, something neither of these other (Democrats) have. I would put Sarah Palin's credentials up against Sen. Obama any day of the week." Also rejects the idea of postponing the convention due to Hurricane Gustav -- says it would be too complex. Permalink

Palin: McCain a "Joe Blow Public Member"

Earlier this month, the new GOP veep told the New Yorker she saw McCain as someone "looking from the outside in." "He’s been buttin’ heads with Republicans for years, and that’s a healthy place to be.” Also called herself a "hard-core Republican" on abortion and guns, but added, "no one will accuse me of being partisan." Plus: She showed respect for Obama's campaign theme, and shareed concern about the war in Iraq-- click here to read more. Permalink

French Toast and Swing Votes

The Obamas and Bidens swing by the Yankee Kitchen outside Youngstown, Ohio for some breakfast and glad-handing. Sen. Obama: Two eggs over medium, a waffle, bacon. Michelle Obama: French toast. Sen. Biden: French toast. Jill Biden: Scrambled eggs and toast. The candidates also responded to questions about Hurricane Gustav-- read pool report. Permalink